The greatest success in strategic planning is derived by identifying powerful pivotal strategies…ones that your whole plan must revolve around. These pivotal strategies start with your vision and purpose and enable you to express from the deepest motivators. The what to do lacks a driving passion to make it so without know the why behind it. German philosopher, Nietzsche observed, "He who has a why to live for can bear with almost any how."

The success or failure of your business in 2001 certainly will hinge on the clarity of purpose you have in envisioning the outcomes. Taking the business planning time to envision where you want to end up on December 31st, 2001, why you want that and how you can most effectively leverage your strengths in the marketplace may be some of the most productive work you do all year. Starting with the strategies and then having the goals fall out of them, rather than the other way around will expand the possibilities.

Your pivotal strategies will lead to the best and easiest way get to where you see yourself going. The Strong Self Strategy is one such pivotal strategy. You are the goose that lays the golden eggs and nothing wonderful is going to happen without your vision, your energy and your effort. How well you take care of the goose is, perhaps, the most important goal you could have. Let’s take a look at what this might encompass.

Strong Self Strategy: Taking Care of the Goose

The Strong Self Strategy is taking care of the proverbial goose that lays the golden eggs. That goose is you and I hope in 2001, you won’t be a silly goose trying to pop as many of those eggs out as humanly possible, exhausting yourself in the process. I hope you’ll be a pampered goose whose awe and wonder at the ability to lay golden eggs is enhanced, nourished, enjoyed and appreciated. This fifth strategy perhaps should have been the first one because without it, you will not last long in this business (or any other).

A Strong Self Strategy is multifaceted and will be different for each individual, just as individual gifts and propensities vary. This strategy can include building reserves and well-being in the areas of financial independence, your body, spirit, mind, and relationships.

Your financial goals are most achievable when the connection to the long term picture is mapped out. They must include short term needs as well as investment for future needs such as education or retirement.

Taking care of your body and health often get a back seat ride, but they deserve to be a priority to give you the energy to do what you want to do. It is difficult in the real estate business to have balance, but it is possible to plan for the times you will be out of balance. Knowing why and for how long the imbalance will last and what the refueling plan is will keep you from running out of gas.

Recent findings about high productivity and effectiveness point to a need for expanding our mental resources and learning. Growing and learning is an important part of being vibrantly alive and create a high level of job satisfaction. For most people 99% of the 6000+ thoughts they think each day are old, accepted thoughts. However, new thinking is what precedes new actions. How is your curiosity quotient?

Perhaps more than any other area, knowing the needs of your spirit adds a quality to your actions that align all you do with an integrity, a wholeness that brings forth your purpose in this lifetime. Those people who know who they are also able to face circumstances and setbacks that would stop most others. They draw on a deep reserve and belief system that focuses on the positive rather than the negative.

A community of friends and family is perhaps one of the most nurturing and satisfying aspects of being human. Taking care of these relationships is part of taking care of the goose.

Strong Self Strategy Coaching Questions:

· Take a look at your plan for 2001 and ask yourself if the why has been taken into consideration. Have you defined/reviewed your life vision? Are you clear how your real estate business and goals will enable you to further this purpose? Would playing bigger this year enable you to touch even more people with your vision?

· Are you playing a big enough game? When the why is very clear, there is no losing and the bigger game you are willing to play, the more fun you’ll have and the bigger difference you’ll make.

· When do you plan to be financially independent? How much will you need? When do you envision getting there? Do your plans for 2001 fit with this? What different streams of income could you add to produce passive income?

· Do you treat your body as your temple? Are you caught up on checkups and yearly preventative screenings-dental, eyes, ears? Have you had an annual pap smear, a bone density test, and prostrate check-up? Do you exercise 3-5 times per week? Is you weight within an acceptably healthy range? Do you eat well?

· Are you feeding your mind? What new thinking will you expose yourself to this year? Have you budgeted and planned to attend conventions, seminars, and real estate related educational sessions? Do you have a budget for tapes, books, & coaches? Are you going to try some new learning models, such a teleconferences and on-line classes. Are you subscribed to industry related mailing lists? Are you budgeting time each day/ week for learning?

· Do you nourish your spirit? Is there time every day to reflect, pray, listen to your own inner voice? Do you take at least one full day each week off-leaving the pager and cell phone behind? Do you go on vacations and take breaks on a monthly basis? Do you get a massage regularly? Do you quiet the external chatter and ask for what you really, really want from the universe, understanding that no answer IS an answer? Do you appreciate and trust everything is perfect right now and everything that happens has a reason and a lesson?

· Are you taking planning time in 2001 to expand your connection with your community of friends, family and lovers? Are you giving back to the world in simple ways every day, making it easier for the people you are in contact with through simple gestures of kindness? Do you refuse to volunteer where it isn’t a good use of your skills, so that you are the energy to give where and when it is most appropriate? Are you a good receiver—do you accept graciously and gratefully when others want to give to you or help? Do you let others know how much they are appreciated-even in the small actions?

The Strong Self Strategy is the foundation for your other strategies. It is the well that waters the bountiful harvest from the seeds you plant. May 2001 be your best year ever! It starts with you!

Published: January 2, 2001

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Joeann Fossland GRI, LTG, MCC is a dynamic speaker and business coach. Creator of THE REAL ESTATE GAMETM, she provides coaching solutions enhance your effectiveness and life balance. You can subscribe to her free monthly newsletter, attend free monthly telephone seminars, and find out about classes delivered by email and personal coaching by visiting JoeAnn.com or e-mail her at .